OBITUARY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1197, 8 February 1895, Page 16

OBITUARY.

RICHARD DAYIS. We regret to chronicle the death of Mr Richard Davis, formerly Drum-Major of the 65th Regiment, and well-known as Drum-Major of the Wellington Garrison Band. His death, which took place at 6 o’clock on Friday evening, was not unexpected, as he has been ailing for the last 14 months from heart disease. The deceased was born in Ireland in 1828,and joined the British Army at 11 years of age, enrolling as a bugler in H.M. 65th Regiment. Ha arrived with his regiment in New Zeaiand in 1846, and took part in several engagements of the Maori Wars, first near Porirua in 1847, then in the Taranaki War of 1860-61, and finally in the Waikato War of 186263, for which he received the New Zealand War Medal. Upcn his discharge he was granted a pension, and received the silver medal and gratuity for long service and good conduct. Besides his services in New Zealand he served in Canada, the West Indies, Irelandand Australia. He was well known in this city, where he resided with his family for the last 30 years. He was one of the founders of the Court Sir George Bowen of the Ancient Order of Foresters. His eldest son, Mr Thomas Davis, is wefi-knovn in the Civil Service, and another son is Brother Charles, th. 9 principal of the Marist Brothers’ School at Greymouth. The remains of the late gentleman were interred at the Catholic Cemetery on Sunday afternoon with full military honours. The funeral procession, which was a very large one, was arranged as follows:—The firing party, consisting of a sergeant and 19 rank and file of the Wellington City Rifles; the Garrison Band, under Bandmaster Herd, playing the Dead March ; then the gun carriage—in charge of a detachment of the Permanent Artillery under Sergeant-Major Richardson, R. —bearing the coffin, over which was spread the Union Jack, surmounted by the deceased’s hat, sword and sash, and surrounded by many beautiful wreaths ; the carriages containing the relatives of the deceased followed, and immediately behind marched the Wellington City Rifles, under Lieutenant W. G. Duthie. Representatives of other corps brought up the rear. Captain Collins (City Rifles) commanded, witfc whom was Sergeant-Major Finn ; Colonel Newall, Captain Moorhouse, LieutenantCommander Hislop, Lieutenant Warren and Lieutenant Hyde were also present. The members of the Ancient Order of Foresters walked in the procession. Many old soldiers came a long distance to pay their last tribute of respect to one so generally esteemed. The service at the church was conducted by the Rev Father Devoy, Y.G., and the Rev Father Goggan, S. officiated at the grave. Amongst the many handsome wreaths was one from the Wellington Garrison Band.